Nov. 18, 2024
Prayer and Aspiration, Part 3
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter IX Aspiration and Prayer pp. 86-87 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/11/15/prayer-and-aspiration-part-3/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,720
What is the experience of prayer
in our being?
2
00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,440
If it is a form of bargaining
with an expectation of a return,
3
00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:13,800
then it takes on the colour of a
business deal.
4
00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,720
We give from our side the prayer
and the expression of gratitude
5
00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:24,040
or adherence, and in return we
get something we desire from the
6
00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,360
Divine.
But prayer need not be reduced
7
00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,360
to some form of a bargaining
session.
8
00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,840
When an individual experiences
the spontaneous movement of
9
00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,800
prayer from whichever aspect of
the being it originates, there
10
00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,600
is a sense of openness, a
feeling of devotion, and a
11
00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:49,000
process of tuning the being to a
vibration that brings with it
12
00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:55,280
calm, peace, and assurance.
There can be a sense of a flame
13
00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,960
welling up from the deepest
parts of the being.
14
00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,120
Many people create a ritual of
prayer, for instance, prior to
15
00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,920
sleep, they quietly pray and
express their gratitude.
16
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,280
If this is a formulaic
expression rather than some
17
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:17,520
deeply felt experience, they may
simply be calmed and move to a
18
00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,440
status of peace in preparation
for sleep.
19
00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:25,400
The practice may, however, have
added benefits by creating an
20
00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:30,160
auto suggestion that works
during sleep and thereby works
21
00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,320
to carry out the intention
behind the prayer.
22
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:38,440
There is a reality and a truth
that underlies the formulation
23
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,440
of prayer and if done with the
correct focus and intensity, it
24
00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,880
can have real and unpalpable
results.
25
00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,200
Prayer can unite the individual
consciousness with the Divine
26
00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:55,840
personality, the being in
manifestation, and thus bring
27
00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,160
together our deeper aspiration
with the adherents of the
28
00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:04,720
external being, the mind, the
vital, and the physical.
29
00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,120
The aspiration of the psychic
being can be brought into the
30
00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,800
external being through the
instrumentality of prayer that
31
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,160
carries that aspiration into the
mind, the vital or the physical
32
00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,800
as the case may be.
A prayer that is filled with the
33
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,920
consecrated energy of the
psychic aspiration and express
34
00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:31,280
verbally or non verbally through
these elements of the being can
35
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,360
have a palpable impact in the
external world.
36
00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,600
In particular, the verbal
expression of a prayer of this
37
00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,680
type sets up a vibration that
impacts matter, life and mind in
38
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:49,680
a very concrete way.
The Mother notes quote Certainly
39
00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,720
one may have an aspiration in
all the domains, but the very
40
00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,760
center of aspiration is in the
psychic being.
41
00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,720
Whilst one may pray in all the
domains, and the prayer belongs
42
00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,920
to the domain in which one
prays, one may make purely
43
00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:12,120
material physical prayers, vital
prayers, mental prayers, psychic
44
00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:17,080
prayers, spiritual prayers, and
each one has its special
45
00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:22,800
character, its special value.
There's a kind of prayer at 1,
46
00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:27,520
spontaneous and unselfish, which
is like a great call, usually
47
00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,240
not for one's own self
personally, but like something
48
00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,080
that may be called an
intercession with the Divine.
49
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,320
It is extremely powerful.
I have had countless instances
50
00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,640
of things which have been
realized almost instantaneously
51
00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:48,040
due to prayers of this kind.
It implies a great faith, a
52
00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:53,160
great ardour, a great sincerity,
and a great simplicity of heart.
53
00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:58,960
Also something that does not
calculate, does not plan, does
54
00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,840
not bargain, does not give with
the idea of receiving in
55
00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:08,400
exchange, for the majority of
men give with one hand and hold
56
00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,760
out the other to get something
in exchange.
57
00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:16,040
The largest number of prayers
are of that sort, but there are
58
00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,240
others of the kind I have
described.
59
00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:24,280
Acts of Thanksgiving, a kind of
canticle, and these are very
60
00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:26,920
good.
There you are.
61
00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,520
I don't know if I've made myself
clear, but this is how it is.
62
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,280
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
63
00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:41,680
Mother Powers within, Chapter 9,
Aspiration and Prayer, pages 86
64
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:42,680
to 87.
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,720
What is the experience of prayer
in our being?
2
00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,440
If it is a form of bargaining
with an expectation of a return,
3
00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:13,800
then it takes on the colour of a
business deal.
4
00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,720
We give from our side the prayer
and the expression of gratitude
5
00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:24,040
or adherence, and in return we
get something we desire from the
6
00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,360
Divine.
But prayer need not be reduced
7
00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,360
to some form of a bargaining
session.
8
00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,840
When an individual experiences
the spontaneous movement of
9
00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,800
prayer from whichever aspect of
the being it originates, there
10
00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,600
is a sense of openness, a
feeling of devotion, and a
11
00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:49,000
process of tuning the being to a
vibration that brings with it
12
00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:55,280
calm, peace, and assurance.
There can be a sense of a flame
13
00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,960
welling up from the deepest
parts of the being.
14
00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,120
Many people create a ritual of
prayer, for instance, prior to
15
00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,920
sleep, they quietly pray and
express their gratitude.
16
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,280
If this is a formulaic
expression rather than some
17
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:17,520
deeply felt experience, they may
simply be calmed and move to a
18
00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,440
status of peace in preparation
for sleep.
19
00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:25,400
The practice may, however, have
added benefits by creating an
20
00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:30,160
auto suggestion that works
during sleep and thereby works
21
00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,320
to carry out the intention
behind the prayer.
22
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:38,440
There is a reality and a truth
that underlies the formulation
23
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,440
of prayer and if done with the
correct focus and intensity, it
24
00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,880
can have real and unpalpable
results.
25
00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,200
Prayer can unite the individual
consciousness with the Divine
26
00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:55,840
personality, the being in
manifestation, and thus bring
27
00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,160
together our deeper aspiration
with the adherents of the
28
00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:04,720
external being, the mind, the
vital, and the physical.
29
00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,120
The aspiration of the psychic
being can be brought into the
30
00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,800
external being through the
instrumentality of prayer that
31
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,160
carries that aspiration into the
mind, the vital or the physical
32
00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,800
as the case may be.
A prayer that is filled with the
33
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,920
consecrated energy of the
psychic aspiration and express
34
00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:31,280
verbally or non verbally through
these elements of the being can
35
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,360
have a palpable impact in the
external world.
36
00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,600
In particular, the verbal
expression of a prayer of this
37
00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,680
type sets up a vibration that
impacts matter, life and mind in
38
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:49,680
a very concrete way.
The Mother notes quote Certainly
39
00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,720
one may have an aspiration in
all the domains, but the very
40
00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,760
center of aspiration is in the
psychic being.
41
00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,720
Whilst one may pray in all the
domains, and the prayer belongs
42
00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,920
to the domain in which one
prays, one may make purely
43
00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:12,120
material physical prayers, vital
prayers, mental prayers, psychic
44
00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:17,080
prayers, spiritual prayers, and
each one has its special
45
00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:22,800
character, its special value.
There's a kind of prayer at 1,
46
00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:27,520
spontaneous and unselfish, which
is like a great call, usually
47
00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,240
not for one's own self
personally, but like something
48
00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,080
that may be called an
intercession with the Divine.
49
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,320
It is extremely powerful.
I have had countless instances
50
00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,640
of things which have been
realized almost instantaneously
51
00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:48,040
due to prayers of this kind.
It implies a great faith, a
52
00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:53,160
great ardour, a great sincerity,
and a great simplicity of heart.
53
00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:58,960
Also something that does not
calculate, does not plan, does
54
00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,840
not bargain, does not give with
the idea of receiving in
55
00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:08,400
exchange, for the majority of
men give with one hand and hold
56
00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,760
out the other to get something
in exchange.
57
00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:16,040
The largest number of prayers
are of that sort, but there are
58
00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,240
others of the kind I have
described.
59
00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:24,280
Acts of Thanksgiving, a kind of
canticle, and these are very
60
00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:26,920
good.
There you are.
61
00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,520
I don't know if I've made myself
clear, but this is how it is.
62
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,280
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
63
00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:41,680
Mother Powers within, Chapter 9,
Aspiration and Prayer, pages 86
64
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:42,680
to 87.